11 DESCRIPTION
Docetaxel is an antineoplastic agent belonging to the taxoid family. It is prepared by semisynthesis beginning with a precursor extracted from the renewable needle biomass of yew plants. The chemical name for docetaxel is (2R,3S)-N-carboxy-3-phenylisoserine,N-tert-butyl ester, 13-ester with 5β-20-epoxy-1,2α,4,7β,10β,13α-hexahydroxytax-11-en-9-one 4-acetate 2-benzoate, trihydrate. Docetaxel (trihydrate) has the following structural formula:
Docetaxel (trihydrate) is a white to almost-white powder with an empirical formula of C43H53NO14 ∙ 3H2O, and a molecular weight of 861.9. It is highly lipophilic and practically insoluble in water.
Docetaxel Injection, USP is a sterile, non-pyrogenic, pale-yellow to brownish yellow solution at 20 mg/mL concentration.
Each mL contains 20 mg docetaxel (anhydrous), 520 mg polysorbate 80 NF, 7 mg citric acid monohydrate USP, and 395 mg dehydrated alcohol USP.
Docetaxel Injection is available in single-dose vials containing 20 mg (1 mL) or multiple-dose vials containing 80 mg (4 mL) or 160 mg (8 mL) docetaxel (anhydrous).
Docetaxel Injection requires NO prior dilution with a diluent and is ready to add to the infusion solution.